TANZANIA and the European Union (EU) have agreed that investing in health technology and infrastructure is crucial for achieving the widest health coverage among the population.

Dr Godwin Mollel, the Health deputy minister, made this remark in Dar es Salaam yesterday after holding discussions with the head of the European Union delegation, Christine Grau on strategies to improve the country’s health sector.

He cited the critical role of technology in enhancing healthcare services and reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, where a notable point of discussion was introducing mobile laboratories to help detect and move to control contagious diseases.

These mobile laboratories will be vital in border regions and neighbouring countries since they enable rapid diagnostics, facilitating early interventions and preventing the spread of viral infections, among others.

In the talks, the two sides stressed the importance of international collaboration in strengthening health systems, acknowledging essential contributions of organizations like the Red Cross and the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), which provide critical technical support, he said.

The government acknowledged the vital significance of EU’s ongoing support, enhancing Tanzania's ability to tackle health challenges, with the EU envoy affirming the delegation’s commitment to work with the government for delivering safe, quality healthcare services, particularly in areas facing major health challenges.

Through various agreements and initiatives, Tanzania and the EU are collaborating to improve health systems, increase access to quality medicines and strengthen public health preparedness, including access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies, he stated.

The EU is also a longstanding partner in supporting Tanzania attain sustainable agriculture, alongside food and nutrition security, as over the past decade, cooperation has focused on key commodities showing opportunities for pro-poor trade in local and regional markets, he said.

Partnership covers key areas such as strengthening health systems, pandemic preparedness, access to medicines, along with research and innovation, where the EU supports Tanzania by improving health infrastructure, training healthcare workers and boosting research and surveillance efforts.

Furthermore, the EU is helping Tanzania enhance its response to health emergencies, including pandemics, through funding and technical support, he specified.

This includes improving access to affordable medicines and healthcare while fostering the development of new health technologies, particularly in vaccine manufacturing and disease prevention, he added.